Hair-curler



(No Model.)

S. K. MATHEWS. HAIR UURLER.

No. 517,350. Patented Mar. 27, 1894.

WITNESSES. 1,0 INVENTOH A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVESTER K. MATHEWS, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

HAlR-CURLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,350, dated March 27, 1894.

Application filed March 6, 1893. Serial No. 464,720. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SYLvEsTER K. MATH- EWS, of Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Hair-Curler, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in hair curlers, and it has for its object to provide a device which will be exceedingly simple, durable and economic in its construction, and which will be capable of being manipulated with but one hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a curler which will cause the hair into which it is introduced to curl or wrap around it as the curling section is manipulated, the hair so encircling the curling section that said section may be withdrawn from the hair, the latter remaining in curl.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a meanswherebyalthough to curl the hair the device is manipulated by hand, when the curler is removed from the hair the parts are automatically restored to their normal position so that they may be immediately applied again.

Theinvontion consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of referonce indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and. partial vertical sectional view of the curler. Fig. 2 is a section through the curling section of the curler, the said section being taken essentially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section through the body of the curler, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention the body A, is preferably given a circular shape and is tubular, being provided at the top with a cap 10 and at the bottom with a cap 10% These two caps are ordinarily screwed into the body. The lower cap is solid while the upper cap is provided with a central opening, through which the upper end of a shaft 11 passes, which shaft, at its lower end after passing the length of the body is journaled in the lower body cap 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper or major portion of the shaft contained within the body is shaped as a screw, the said screw section being designated by the reference numeral 12. A slot 13, is made in opposite sides of the body said slot being of predetermined length; and the wings 14 of a nut 15, are made to extend outward through the body slots, while the nut is adapted to travel upon the threaded section of the shaft, conforming to the cross sectional shape thereof. Thus when the nut is drawn downward along the threaded section of the shaft, the shaft will be given a rotary movement. The nut rests upon the upper end of the spring 16, the spring being coiled around the shaft within the body; and the lower end of the spring usually rests upon the lower body cap 10*. Thus when the nut has been forced downward to revolve the shaft in one direction, the shaft will be revolved automatically in a contrary direction, immediately upon the release of the nut 15, through the action of the spring 16, which serves to keep the nut always in an upper position.

The curling section A of the curler is of peculiar construction, and it is constructed by securing upon the upper outer portion of the shaft 11 a collar 17, which is preferably circular; and in this collar the lower ends of a series of rods 18 are secured ina firm manner, the rods extending upward in circular arrangement around the upper portion of the shaft 11, parallel with said shaft, thus forming a circular cage. The upper extremity of the shaft and likewise the upper or outer ends of the rods are either made pointed or tapering, preferably the latter. The lower end of the body usually has attached to it a ring 19. The shaft and likewise the rods constituting the cage are made of steel in order that they may be heated when desired.

The operation of the device is exceedingly simple, and it is accomplished. by the use of but one hand. For example, the thumb is passed through the ring 19 to a bearing against the lower cap 10 of the body, and the first and second fingers of the same hand are made to engage with the wings of the nut. The cage or curling section of the curler is then introduced into the hair where it is to be curled. The nut is then forced downward,

giving a quick rotary movement to the shaft 11 and consequently to the cage A, and the hair will be curled around the individual members of the cage in such manner that the hair will not be broken nor will any pain be experienced. Before releasing the nut from its downward pressure, the lower position of the nut being shown in Fig. 1, the curling or cage section is removed from the hair, and the moment the nut is released the spring sections restore the nut automatically to its normal position, and bring the cage or curling section in position to be again introduced into the hair.

This device is exceedingly simple, and as has been heretofore stated, it is likewise economic and durable in its construction, and may be manipulated expeditiously and with convenience by the use of but one hand.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a tubular handle provided with end caps or bearings and 1ongitudinal slots between said caps or bearings, of a nut within the handle and having wings extending through the said slots, and a curling shaft journaled in the handle against longitudinal movement and having a spiral section passing through the said nut, substantially as set forth.

2. A curling iron comprising the tubular handle having longitudinal slots, a. nut sliding within the handle and provided with wings projecting through said slots, a spring pressing the nut outwardly, and the curling shaft journaled in the handle against longitudinal movement and having a spiral section passing through the nut, substantially as set forth.

3. A curling iron consisting in the tubular longitudinally slotted handle provided with end caps or closures, a nut sliding within the handle and provided with wings projecting through the slots, a spring pressing the nut outwardly, a shaft journaled in the handle against longitudinal movement and havinga spiral portion extending through the nut, and a curling cage concentric with the outer end of the shaft and formed of a circular series of longitudinally extending parallel spaced rods, substantially as set forth.

SYLVESTER K. MATHEWS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. E. HOUGHTALING, THEODORE A. Bonus. 

